Product Review: Ring Wi-Fi enabled video doorbell

By Komando Staff, Komando.com

Home security is an everyday concern, regardless of where you live. There are several smart systems available, but figuring out the right one isn’t always easy. This is our product review and buyer’s guide for the Ring smart doorbell.

Ring is a high-definition, night-vision capable camera and doorbell. It uses a Wi-Fi connection to stream video and audio to a smartphone, allowing homeowners to view a live video feed of their residence and speak with visitors in real-time.

Installing Ring isn’t overly complicated. Create an account with the Android or iOS app, press the orange button on the back to connect it to the network, and put it on the wall. How long it takes will depend on whether the doorbell is battery powered or connected to existing wiring.

When the doorbell is pressed or motion is detected, a notification is sent to the smartphone, which can be accepted or declined. The new Ring Pro has the ability to view live video on demand while the older Ring is having that feature steadily rolled out.

The original Ring sells for $199 and the Ring Pro will set you back another $50. Ring offers a cloud-based storage and backup for six months of footage. The service is $3 per month or $30 per year for each doorbell but is not required for the doorbell’s use.